Page:Roman Constitutional History, 753-44 B.C..djvu/153

Rh family, or of personal gain and advancement. The new method of winning popularity and distinction by prosecuting some eminent nobleman had the sanction of Cato's illustrious example; but it promoted the formation of cliques and factions, and, without benefiting the state, it gave rise to numerous personal feuds within the nobility.

Senatorial Government. — The senatorial government corresponded to the character of the senators. In general, the senate was responsible for the attempts to degrade the popular assemblies by the admission of freedmen to all the districts (tribus). It, as well as the candidates, was responsible for the practice of corrupting the people by the celebration of games and festivals, and finally by direct bribery. It was the senate, as the organ of the nobility, which confined the choice of the highest magistrates to the narrow circle of the nobility, and, with very few exceptions, excluded all other Roman citizens, however able and patriotic. The senate was, in a large measure, chargeable with the decline of the national prosperity and of Italian agriculture, because of its selfish management of the public domain and finances. It was, in the main, accountable for the general change for the worse, for the drifting toward a political catastrophe, and, outside of Italy, for the misgovernment of the provinces and the miserable conduct of wars.

Consolidation of the Oligarchy. — The nepotism of Scipio Africanus and others made it seem desirable to prevent by law such a distinguished official career as his had been, and such a dominant influence. The oligarchy was thus enabled to carry a number of laws consolidating its power and equalizing the political opportunities of the individual nobles.

Senatorial Safeguards against the Magistrates. — The Villian plebiscite (lex Villia annalis) of 180 directly or indirectly established definite requirements as to the proper age for,